Smut is marked with these symbols if you want to skip it! ❧☙
I. August 14, 2010
Draco walks the familiar path through the cemetery, a large bouquet tucked precariously in one arm while he holds a large black umbrella upright in his hand. Walking solemnly beside him, seven-year-old Scorpius holds his other hand, and Draco looks down and gives his son a grateful smile. He'd planned to come alone, but Scorpius insisted on joining him.
When they reach their destination, Draco hands the umbrella over to Scorpius and kneels on the rain-soaked grass to lay the bouquet—pink roses and white lilies—at the base of the smooth headstone, before standing and taking his place beside Scorpius again, shivering as raindrops drip from his hair down the back of his coat.
Scorpius gives his hand a squeeze. "What did you want to say, Dad?"
Draco swallows hard at the lump that has formed in his throat.
"I think Mum would be happy for you," Scorpius says softly, wise beyond his years. "Maybe I could talk to her?"
Draco nods, and Scorpius steps forward to address the headstone, leaving Draco alone under the umbrella.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Hi Mum," Scorpius says brightly. "Guess what? Dad's getting married today! And I know that might be a little sad, because you and Dad were married too, but we've been alone for a long time, and now I'll get three new brothers and a sister! And Harry says I don't have to call him dad or papa or anything like that if I don't want to, even after the adoption becomes official, but I think I do, I just haven't decided what I want to call him yet. Teddy calls him Harry and I think that's weird, but Harry says he used to call him dad and it's just because he's almost a teenager now and teenagers are funny sometimes.
"Harry makes Dad really happy, Mum, and I think you'd like that. He smiles more, and sometimes he gets all soppy when he looks at Harry and they kiss and Teddy and James make vomit noises and Albus and I laugh, but I don't really think it's that bad..."
Oh, Merlin.
The bright yellow of Scorpius's raincoat and the vibrant red wellies in contrast to the gloom of the cemetery blur as Draco's eyes fill with tears, then overflow, a flicker of warmth before they turn cold against his cheeks.
"...And I think Dad just wanted to come here today and say that we love you, and we're not going to forget you just because we're becoming Malfoy-Potters. Dad promised he'll still tell me stories about you at bedtime anytime I want, and we'll still have pictures of you up, especially the big one in my room, and it's all going to be alright. I promise."
He turns, blue eyes wide and happy as he looks up at Draco. "Was that good, Dad? Do you want to say something now?"
"That was lovely," Draco says with a shaky smile. He takes a few steps forward, kisses the tips of his fingers and touches the top of the smooth stone. "Just...thank you, Astoria. For being my friend, and for giving me this wonderful child. I don't know what I'd do without him, and he's right about all of it. Especially about why I wanted to come today." He lowers his voice. "And I'm sorry our wedding was horrible, and I was such an ar—er, git—that day, and I wish you could have had a real one, too."
